Calling All Canadians

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Anyone in the Eastern Townships (of Quebec, IF that is still part of Canada)?

If so, game for a meet up this winter?  

[justme]

If Quebec is still part of Canada... 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

What?

It's not like they haven't been trying to secede for years and form their own speshul little mini-"France part-deux"...

I was just reading a Wikipedia article about a town in the Eastern Townships.  The article stated that 99% of the residents only speak French.  Only .1% of the town's residents speak French and English.

One of the fun parts of the visit will be butchering my high school French.  

[chiver78]

thank you for knowing that you might have to ask that question!

now what I want to know is, why the hell would you go up there in the winter? it's cold enough around here!

[weltschmerz]

Oct 22, 2014 15:33:53 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Anyone in the Eastern Townships (of Quebec, IF that is still part of Canada)?

If so, game for a meet up this winter?  

I'm game. I've spent a lot of time in the Eastern Townships, but why you'd want to go there in the dead of winter is beyond me.

Montreal is only an hour and half away.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

What??!!

There's a "non-Winter" season in Canada?

Who knew?  

C'mon, folks, there ARE winter sports that require cold and snow.  Chiver, you of ALL people know there is hockey in the winter...

[chiver78]

silly GRG, hockey is year round.

seriously though, have a great time on your trip!

[swamp]

Oct 22, 2014 15:33:53 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Anyone in the Eastern Townships (of Quebec, IF that is still part of Canada)?

If so, game for a meet up this winter?  

I live about an hour from there.

[Sunnyday]

Oct 22, 2014 15:48:20 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

What?

It's not like they haven't been trying to secede for years and form their own speshul little mini-"France part-deux"...

I was just reading a Wikipedia article about a town in the Eastern Townships.  The article stated that 99% of the residents only speak French.  Only .1% of the town's residents speak French and English.

One of the fun parts of the visit will be butchering my high school French.  

Where are you going? And Eastern Townships is beautiful. I went there for a weekend trip and conceived my second child! 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Fortunately, I am just on the other side of the "conceive my second child" age.  

Looking to be in the greater Sherbrooke area.  

Are you/can you be in that area this winter?  There are 2 other posters who MIGHT be in the area...

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2014 15:38:26 GMT -5 justme said:

If Quebec is still part of Canada... 

tee hee...that made me laugh.

[Sunnyday]

Oct 23, 2014 14:53:16 GMT -5 @joey said:

Oct 22, 2014 15:38:26 GMT -5 justme said:

If Quebec is still part of Canada... 

tee hee...that made me laugh.

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

[yogiii]

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Oct 23, 2014 14:53:16 GMT -5 @joey said:

tee hee...that made me laugh.

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

Canadians are just an easy target, that's all.  Then you add in Quebec, they're bilingual (or if they're not FRENCH is the main language, how dare they!), well, you know that's just more stuff to make fun of.  Who would want to know more than one language right?!  Learning, yuck! .

[chiver78]

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Oct 23, 2014 14:53:16 GMT -5 @joey said:

tee hee...that made me laugh.

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

serious question - where in Canada are you? my family is Maritime, and I grew up listening to "wannabe Canadians" whenever QC came up. maybe your perspective is a little different than mine....?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Oct 23, 2014 14:53:16 GMT -5 @joey said:

tee hee...that made me laugh.

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

Speaking only for myself -- and mind you, my maternal great grandparents immigrated from Ireland to Montreal so I grew up with French-speaking Irish older relatives so have a connection to Quebec -- I just think it's funny that this little province wants to secede from this large country (which is barely even its own country since Canadians are British subjects).  I mean, how will Quebecois defend themselves against invading armies?  Or, does Quebec generate enough in tax revenue to provide any or all of the services that the federal Canadian government provides?  Will Quebec set up border crossings and issue its own passports?  What if Quebec natives move to other provinces -- will they have to carry dual citizenships?  I mean, it just seems like the Quebecois haven't really thought this through. Maybe they don't think they are fairly represented in Parliament, but heck, most Americans don't think we are fairly represented in Congress and we're not trying to secede.  If anyone has the right to secede, it is the poor people of Washington, D.C. who rightly proclaim on their license plates that they live in the land of "taxation without representation."  

[Sunnyday]

Oct 23, 2014 21:22:25 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

Speaking only for myself -- and mind you, my maternal great grandparents immigrated from Ireland to Montreal so I grew up with French-speaking Irish older relatives so have a connection to Quebec -- I just think it's funny that this little province wants to secede from this large country (which is barely even its own country since Canadians are British subjects).  I mean, how will Quebecois defend themselves against invading armies?  Or, does Quebec generate enough in tax revenue to provide any or all of the services that the federal Canadian government provides?  Will Quebec set up border crossings and issue its own passports?  What if Quebec natives move to other provinces -- will they have to carry dual citizenships?  I mean, it just seems like the Quebecois haven't really thought this through. Maybe they don't think they are fairly represented in Parliament, but heck, most Americans don't think we are fairly represented in Congress and we're not trying to secede.  If anyone has the right to secede, it is the poor people of Washington, D.C. who rightly proclaim on their license plates that they live in the land of "taxation without representation."  

I still don't see the humour in it. And just so that you know, Canada is not barely a country. It's part of the Commonwealth, but it is very much its own country. 

And as the referendums of the past have shown, the majority of the Quebecers do not want to separate. Maybe you are confusing the recent Scotland referendum with the Quebec one. 

If you can't understand why the Quebec do not feel part of Canada, then you know very little about their history. It's like not understanding why Ireland wanted to be free from English domination.

For what it's worth, I don't think that Quebec should or ever will separate. As an American, I find a lot of things crappy in Canada, but I don't find any of it funny. But I guess I just don't understand the humour in finding Canada "barely" a country and feeling that Quebec even sillier to want separation.    

I've lived here for almost a decade. I just realized that for the first time that I do feel a connection. The events of this past week have been really hard on me. 

[Virgil Showlion]

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Oct 23, 2014 14:53:16 GMT -5 @joey said:

tee hee...that made me laugh.

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

It's like saying "Meetup in Texas, if that's still a part of the US". The humour is in the irony: the fact that Quebec is surely still a part of Canada juxtaposed with the fatalistic acknowledgement that some issues (like French separatism) never go away.

As for the meetup, Quebec is a little too far out of the way for me, but the invitation is appreciated.

[swamp]

Oct 24, 2014 10:59:47 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Oct 23, 2014 21:22:25 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Speaking only for myself -- and mind you, my maternal great grandparents immigrated from Ireland to Montreal so I grew up with French-speaking Irish older relatives so have a connection to Quebec -- I just think it's funny that this little province wants to secede from this large country (which is barely even its own country since Canadians are British subjects).  I mean, how will Quebecois defend themselves against invading armies?  Or, does Quebec generate enough in tax revenue to provide any or all of the services that the federal Canadian government provides?  Will Quebec set up border crossings and issue its own passports?  What if Quebec natives move to other provinces -- will they have to carry dual citizenships?  I mean, it just seems like the Quebecois haven't really thought this through. Maybe they don't think they are fairly represented in Parliament, but heck, most Americans don't think we are fairly represented in Congress and we're not trying to secede.  If anyone has the right to secede, it is the poor people of Washington, D.C. who rightly proclaim on their license plates that they live in the land of "taxation without representation."  

I still don't see the humour in it. And just so that you know, Canada is not barely a country. It's part of the Commonwealth, but it is very much its own country. 

And as the referendums of the past have shown, the majority of the Quebecers do not want to separate. Maybe you are confusing the recent Scotland referendum with the Quebec one. 

If you can't understand why the Quebec do not feel part of Canada, then you know very little about their history. It's like not understanding why Ireland wanted to be free from English domination.

For what it's worth, I don't think that Quebec should or ever will separate. As an American, I find a lot of things crappy in Canada, but I don't find any of it funny. But I guess I just don't understand the humour in finding Canada "barely" a country and feeling that Quebec even sillier to want separation.    

I've lived here for almost a decade. I just realized that for the first time that I do feel a connection. The events of this past week have been really hard on me. 

I think it's kind of funny.

I went to college in the early 1990's and had a Canadian Studies minor.  We spent 2 years discussing whether or not Quebec would leave Canada.  We had guest speakers, we took road trips to Montreal and Quebec City, we had guest speakers who were prominent people in the separatist movement, we heard from politicians, and it was a BIG DEAL.  It was voted down.  25 years later, they are still discussing it. 

It's funny because it will never happen. 

[weltschmerz]

Oct 23, 2014 21:22:25 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

Speaking only for myself -- and mind you, my maternal great grandparents immigrated from Ireland to Montreal so I grew up with French-speaking Irish older relatives so have a connection to Quebec -- I just think it's funny that this little province wants to secede from this large country (which is barely even its own country since Canadians are British subjects).  I mean, how will Quebecois defend themselves against invading armies?  Or, does Quebec generate enough in tax revenue to provide any or all of the services that the federal Canadian government provides?  Will Quebec set up border crossings and issue its own passports?  What if Quebec natives move to other provinces -- will they have to carry dual citizenships?  I mean, it just seems like the Quebecois haven't really thought this through. Maybe they don't think they are fairly represented in Parliament, but heck, most Americans don't think we are fairly represented in Congress and we're not trying to secede.  If anyone has the right to secede, it is the poor people of Washington, D.C. who rightly proclaim on their license plates that they live in the land of "taxation without representation."  

Actually, we're not British subjects, and haven't been for quite some time.
We ARE citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations.

[weltschmerz]

Oct 23, 2014 18:17:51 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

Canadians are just an easy target, that's all.  Then you add in Quebec, they're bilingual (or if they're not FRENCH is the main language, how dare they!), well, you know that's just more stuff to make fun of.  Who would want to know more than one language right?!  Learning, yuck! .

Most folks I know speak at least three languages. The very nerve, eh?

[Value Buy]

Oct 22, 2014 19:34:06 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

thank you for knowing that you might have to ask that question!

now what I want to know is, why the hell would you go up there in the winter? it's cold enough around here!

When I saw the original post, I assumed she meant somewhere in Florida in February, where half the country winds up trying to thaw out.

[Spellbound454]

I quite like Canadians, they seem to be on the same wavelength as Brits......more so than in the US
Same sense of humour I guess.

Probably got a better democracy than we have.....but then we have been under attack for quite a long time.

[Deleted]

Oct 24, 2014 12:51:30 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 24, 2014 10:59:47 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

I still don't see the humour in it. And just so that you know, Canada is not barely a country. It's part of the Commonwealth, but it is very much its own country. 

And as the referendums of the past have shown, the majority of the Quebecers do not want to separate. Maybe you are confusing the recent Scotland referendum with the Quebec one. 

If you can't understand why the Quebec do not feel part of Canada, then you know very little about their history. It's like not understanding why Ireland wanted to be free from English domination.

For what it's worth, I don't think that Quebec should or ever will separate. As an American, I find a lot of things crappy in Canada, but I don't find any of it funny. But I guess I just don't understand the humour in finding Canada "barely" a country and feeling that Quebec even sillier to want separation.    

I've lived here for almost a decade. I just realized that for the first time that I do feel a connection. The events of this past week have been really hard on me. 

I think it's kind of funny.

I went to college in the early 1990's and had a Canadian Studies minor.  We spent 2 years discussing whether or not Quebec would leave Canada.  We had guest speakers, we took road trips to Montreal and Quebec City, we had guest speakers who were prominent people in the separatist movement, we heard from politicians, and it was a BIG DEAL.  It was voted down.  25 years later, they are still discussing it. 

It's funny because it will never happen. 

This.  Thank goodness someone here has a sense of humour. 

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2014 17:54:43 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Oct 23, 2014 14:53:16 GMT -5 @joey said:

tee hee...that made me laugh.

Seriously, maybe because I'm in Canada, but I don't understand why people would think that this is funny.

Can someone explain this to me? seriously.  no sarcasm or joking on my part.

Perhaps I could explain this best as an "inside joke".